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In a well organized home, there is no mail or school work lying on the counter. There are no laundry baskets in plain sight, no backpacks, shoes, or coats lying around. The dishes are done and put away. The table is clear, ready for a new task to begin.

In other words, there is no work staring us in the face when we walk in. When we see pictures of organized homes, or walk into a beautiful vacation home with none of our clutter around us-we feel none of the stress or anxiety that we feel when we walk into our own cluttered homes.

Tax time cannot be avoided without penalty. Like spring showers, it comes around each year whether we like it or not. What you can avoid is the last minute search for documents, receipts, and forms you need to file before the April deadline.

If you work with an accountant, you can use their year-end tax planning guide to help you itemize your individual and business taxes. It often includes tips on lowering your taxes and keeps you up to date on current tax laws. You can make your own list as well but accountants can offer ideas you may not think of on your own.

We all need to feel a sense of control over our environment including our home or office. When these places get cluttered with too much junk a feeling of chaos and uncertainty occurs. A sense of control may be lost. An ability to produce may be hindered as well. Anxiety grows. You may find yourself asking: “Is there a better way?”

Congratulations, you’ve started on a path to find a solution and regain your sense of control. In my experience as a professional organizer people can get sidetracked from accomplishing their goals in a number of ways. Feed your need for control by avoiding these common organizing mistakes.

Think about it. Stacks of bills scattered about the house; mail mixed in with newspapers; last minute shipping of gifts; delayed maintenance on your car or house – these are more than annoying inconveniences. They are signs of a disorganized home that is costing you time and money. We console ourselves with excuses. We’re too busy at work, or with the kids, to keep on top of things. Meanwhile, plenty of companies are willing to let you pay the price for your disorganized home.

The new year is a great time to reflect back and to look ahead. As I make my resolutions on the dawn of 2015, I have been thinking about legacy. How will I be remembered by my loved ones? What memories of our time together will last? It seems that if I put this at the forefront of my thoughts, things fall into perspective. Our lives are often cluttered with excess. Meaningless activities can suck our time and energy. The ones we love are sometimes the last to get our time and attention. I challenge you to think about your legacy in five key areas of your life in 2015.

This past year our photo organizing business has grown, and it has been very rewarding to be a part of these projects that bring so much joy to our clients.

Whether the photo project represents a memory of a loved one’s life, an archive for an active family or a complete family history shared for the next generation, their value typically far exceeds the cost. We understand that photos and movies are often the only physical connection between you and your most important memories. To bring these memories back into our lives, where we can once again hold them close to our heart is something that is both personal and meaningful. We transform mounds of photos, film, and memorabilia into something that can be accessed at a moment’s notice, either in print or digitally. Photo organizing can provide much needed connection, comfort and closure.

You may think that asking for help with organizing makes you appear weak or vulnerable, but psychologists say asking for help can actually be a way to empowerment. What it tells others is that you are searching for answers. Successful people understand their strengths and weaknesses, and are willing to delegate when facing a challenge that has gotten the best of them. As a professional organizer I see this kind of empowerment happen all the time. Clients no longer have to pretend that they’ve got every corner covered or be fearful of other people’s judgment. They have help!

Anyone who has seen the planet Earth from a satellite photo knows we occupy a finite space in the universe. Inside our own homes we understand the space we occupy is also finite. This is true whether you live in a grand home or a modest one. Here are six eco-friendly home organizing ideas that can help you manage your space well while protecting our finite resources.

One of my very first clients was an art teacher with a studio that she couldn’t walk into. She was not a hoarder, just someone who let clutter overtake her workspace. The objective was to transform her space back into an art studio where she could paint. Crafters often want to create when they get inspired. So finding what they need at a moment’s notice is important to them. Writers may keep piles of paper and books nearby for easy reference. When I walk into any creative person’s work space, it is usually in some kind of disarray. And you know what? That messiness may actually be boosting their creativity according to recent research.

Click cover image to download a free chapter from Melissa Heisler’s new book.

The concept of work-life balance has only been around for the maybe the last thirty-forty years or so. Work-life balance emerged during this time because more women entered the workforce full-time creating a conflict between roles and responsibilities. Individuals were no longer responsible only for home or only for work. Now they were responsible for both. Adding to this increase in responsibility are also the effects of supposed time-saving technologies like the internet, cellphones, emails and texts. These technologies, instead of making our work days easier and more efficient, tend to bind us to our work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.